Las VegasNix: Las Vegas June 2014 - Part 2 The Cosmopolitan & The Palazzo

This is our Third Las Vegas Trip Report Blog

This June 2014 tour of our 15 day stay continues with

Part 2 - 4 nights at the Cosmopolitan then 3 nights at the Palazzo Hotel & Casino, on the Las Vegas Strip

Monday 9th June - Checking In to the Cosmopolitan Hotel & Casino

Coffee 8.15am check out of the Aria today. We were all packed by 12noon, we had a late check out until 1pm, this is always really good so no need to feel rushed.

Check out went really smoothly, which makes a change, most times there is a mistake on the bill or a long queue, but this time all good. We had a great stay here at the Aria, 8 nights of fun.

We walked through Crystals (pricey shops), then along the walkway, straight into the 2nd level of the Cosmopolitan, easy peasy, and quicker than if we tried to get a taxi.

Panoramic Views across Las Vegas and the Strip from our balcony

Check in was not so good in the Cosmo, the boys room was good to go, ours would be available later, but would be on the same floor, so we thought great, it was predicted to be ready in 30 minutes. Then we had an issue with the resort fees, when we purchased these rooms it clearly stated that the resort fees were included, however on check in the lady said, no, resort fees are never included, which we knew was not the case as many travel agents specify included resort fees or resort fees not included, she went off to see her manager, who would not budge on this point. however, as we had documentation clearly stating that these fees were included, we held our ground; she went off to another manager who acknowledged this and waived the resort fees, (even though they were included, suggesting we had already paid!).

Back to the boy's room we waited and waited etc. went shopping over the ABC store, (snacks, beef jerky, champagne, ruffles etc), drank champagne with the boys on their veranda, still no room for us.

The boys' balcony was very nice too.

Nice twin basin scenario in these rooms...

Ollie went off to the pool to chillax...

Fantastic Fountain View down the strip from the boys' balcony.

Room ready, much later than expected and nowhere near the boys, let alone on the same floor, we were not even in the same elevator bank.

Far LHS View

The majestic Bellagio in all it's glory.

We questioned this, but said they were full and would look to move us in the morning and too be honest they did phone in the morning and offer the boys a room near us, so they did try and help. However, the thought of packing up again really did not float our boat, so decided to put up with the elevator issue; it just meant if we wanted to meet up, we would need to go down to the lobby change elevator banks and go up again. We were obviously also in contact via the internal telephones so not a significant issue.

View looking out to the Paris on the RHS

NOTE: we absolutely love the Cosmopolitan, but it is useful to understand that random chance is that you cannot guarantee your rooms being near your party whether family or friends which stands to reason really in any of the Hotels (even if you follow the $20 tip at reception).

View out past the Rio to the Mountains

On a positive note our room was lovely, with a great view of the Bellagio fountains, however Lesley was not impressed that the washing machines had been decommissioned, this was one of the reasons we picked a suite. But onwards and upwards, just a small point, although a tad annoying - again useful to know if you were expecting the facilities hence why noting these minor points here, helps to manage expectations.

Chilling the Fizz and lining up some snacks for later...

5.30pm all hungry so off to the Wicked Spoon Buffet in the Cosmo. $38 each for dinner, pricey but very nice, lots of choice, fish, meat, great flavours, well cooked and to finish off a dessert station, yum yum, and of course this does include non-alcoholic beverages.

And there off again.... wow!

I think I could get used to this...

Teeing up the next batch...


Taking in the nice evening sunset...

Sun setting as we drink in the Bellagio atmosphere

Panoramic shot as evening sets in...

OJ gives a thumbs up on a great evening...

Boys headed back to their room for drinks on the veranda. Lesley and I hit the casino, but lost around $85 each (our modus operandi when on a bit of a losing streak is to cut and run, within a set budget, rather than chase any losses), so back to room for more champagne.

That slid down very well...

A few shots of this now wonderful nightime scene from our balcony at the Cosmopolitan...

Ahhh a nice cooler 34C tonight...

The boys joined us around 9pm, we stayed on the veranda chatting until about midnight, the warm evening air and the fabulous view of the strip was difficult to leave, but bed was calling...

Tuesday 10th June - Mandalay Bay, Luxor, Excalibur, NYNY round trip Plus Meeting our American cousins

This was now our 10th day of 15 nights in our 2014 summer tour of Vegas - 2nd Leg now at the Cosmopolitan. I did my usual jaunt down to the Cafe to bring back some coffees and muffins for beakfast - only now not the boys as explained above they were nowhere nearby our room. I then headed down for a bit a of a play untill everyone else was ready.

Laredo slot bonus win - Cosmopolitan Las Vegas

Not bad for a 60c bet....

The slots were starting to be a bit kinder to me this morning. I am getting to like this Laredo slot and will seek it out on my return trip.

Once all ready we decided to head over to the Mandalay Bay for breakfast at Raffles Cafe for old times' sake. Well what a mistake/disaster that was, I can honestly say it was the worst service and meal we have ever had in Las Vegas. Our entire order was messed up, we ordered 3 steak and eggs, with differing levels of cooking, (medium well, medium, well etc. same for the eggs, over easy, over well etc.) chips were spicy fries, hash browns and fries, not one order was correct, but we could not even swap it around it still would not work.

The same appeared to happen on the table adjacent to us too - which only had one person on it.

I know we should have sent it back, but that's not what we do, so ate what we could, left quite a lot of food and paid, left, no tip. (never done that before, always left something, but this was bad). To be honest even the table was in a dark dingy area, even though the restaurant was nearly empty and plenty of really nice tables near the patio windows.

Ollie's meal was the only one half decent. Will never return to Raffles, even though this used to be one of favourite haunts and stayed at the Mandy many time before as well.

Neptunes Quest Bonus Big win - NewYork NewYork Las Vegas

Walking back to our rooms at the Cosmo, via the Luxor, Simon hit for $230 on the Video Poker. We all walked back at our own pace, through Excalibur, then New York New York - where I had a decent bonus on Neptunes Quest - see above.

Simon and Lesley met up at the ABC store quite by accident. Ollie had taken himself off to the Cosmo to check out the pool/s.

On our way back to the Cosmo via NYNY

We were expecting our USA cousins Sue and Taylor to arrive in town for a few days, they were also to stay at the Cosmo, we are really looking forward to catching up with them both for a few days.


A cousin catch-up and a toast in our suite at the Cosmo!

Lesley checked with reception, yes they had arrived and checked in, great, gave them a call, arranged to meet in our suite at 6.30 pm for a drink or two. Was really great to chill out with them, few drinks few laughs real good fun.

PF Changs has a great atmosphere and we are set for a great meal.

Needed food; in Las Vegas there are many many places to eat. We settled on P.F. Changs in Planet Hollywood across the road from the Cosmo, a first for us. Changs is an upmarket Chinese Restaurant chain in the USA.

We all shared the lettuce wraps, they were really good. Lesley had the ginger chicken, Taylor had Changs spicy chicken, Simon had sweet and sour chicken, Ian and Sue had Chaing mai chicken curry noodles, I can't remember what Ollie ordered. Great food and service, will return here - large tip left as the exellent service matched the quality of the food - this restored our faith from this morning's disaster.

Back to the Cosmo via yes you got it the ABC store more champagne, (this is becoming a habit).

Laredo slot bonus win (2) - Cosmopolitan Las Vegas
Free spins bonus. Not bad for a 30c bet....

We had a few spins in the Cosmo (where I had another nice little hit on the Laredo slot); the younger generation hit the cocktail bar. Lesley and Sue joined them for a while, I popped in, the oldies went back to our suite for yes, more fizzy and a chat with Sue, stayed chatting until about 2 am on the veranda.

Simon Ollie and Taylor stayed in the casino playing roulette on a slot, until about 2am, then back to the boys room for champagne, 2 bottles, the boys escorted Taylor back to her room about 4am. Needless to say all 3 were very hung-over the next day.

Wednesday 11th June

Sue, Lesley and I met up for breakfast in Henry's which is the Cosmo's 24 hour cafe, we shared 2 portions of blueberry pancakes, these are not on the menu, but they were very happy to cook these up for us and they were amazing, great way to start the day, shame the youngsters were still out of it.

Henrys for late breakfast of pancakes...

Touched base with Taylor, she needed food to be precise pizza, showed her the secret pizza place in the Cosmo, she phoned the boys to see if they wanted pizza, they declined, must be bad for them to turn down pizza!

Sue and Lesley strolled off to the Miracle Mile shops, Boys and Taylor hit the pool, I had a few spins in Planet Hollywood.

We were all due to meet up with Dave and Annette for dinner and a show, at 4.30pm, So opened another bottle on the veranda, it was great to see them after all this time.

Off to Holsteins for dinner, this is a great burger place in the Cosmo, one of our favourites. Food good as always, one observation Dave made was, that we Brits eat burgers with a knife and fork, as opposed to our US counterparts who eat burgers with their hands. I guess the jury is out on which is the best way! But I feel we will be outnumbered on this one.

Show was to be KA, at the MGM Grand, I was really looking forward to it, but unfortunately, it did not live up to my expectation. I believe for health and safety reasons(publicity previously showed a serious accident occurred) the show has been changed, well the final fight, but even this said, I didn't feel it was one of Cirque du Soleils best shows.

Had a few spins on the Lions Share in the MGM, this slot machine is a very old one, but it cannot be removed until the jackpot has hit, needless to say it didn't hit for us either. However, I did read that a month or two after our visit it did at last hit the jackpot, I think for over $2 million.

The others headed back, I stayed in the MGM Grand, then over to the New York New York, with a nice hit for $80 in the latter.

Sue and Lesley off to the veranda to chill, the younger generation off to the casino in the Cosmo. I joined the ladies on the veranda, getting late and tired now.

Apparently after many drinks at 4am in the morning, Ollie went off to play the Grand piano, there is one for folks to play, Ollie is a very good player. Anyway, Taylor woke Sue to go and listen a bit taken back by his impressive skill. Afterwards they all ended up with pizza.

Thursday 12th June - Paris, Mon Ami Gabi!

I am liking the Sky Rider slots while waiting for everyone to arrive for 12:00

Very slow morning, arranged to meet Sue at 12 noon outside Henry's, but it all got a little confusing, so we missed each other. So Simon and I went off in the Cosmo for some slot play, Ollie went off to the pool, Lesley back to the room, for a chill on the balcony.

Continuing my nice hits on the Sky Rider's

And there's more... I really like the Cosmo!

Left message for the others to meet up at 5pm'ish, in our room. At 5pm, all sober except oh dear, Simon and I. Hey ho, opened more champagne on the balcony, 3 bottles later and needing food, all put thinking caps on, came up with Mon Ami Gabi at the Paris - which has been on our "to-do-list" for some time now.

Taylor booked a table for 8.45, they cannot guarantee at table on the terrace, but we hoped it would work out.

Cocktails in the Paris before heading into Mon Ami Gabi

Over to the Paris, straight for a cocktail bar, all had speciality cocktails, all very nice.

OJ and Cousin Sue enjoying the Cocktails too...

8.45 off to Mon Ami Gabi, very lucky with a table on the terrace, great view of the Bellagio fountains, can life get any better?

Mon Ami Gabi, overlooking Bellagio and Ceasars in the backdrop

We shared the baked brie and baked goats cheese in tomato sauce with dipping bread, loved it.

Mains: 3 fillet mignon in merlot reduction; 1 trout; 1 New York strip with béarnaise sauce; finally a chicken club, all with more wine and cocktails. It was heavenly, a perfect food/evening, although we did over do the alcohol slightly.

From Mon Ami Gabi we rolled over to the "Cromwell", this used to be "Bills Gambling Hall". It has had a makeover and enhanced to a "Boutique" hotel. It was okay, the place did lack atmosphere compared to the Bills we knew and loved so well; I do think it's a shame that Vegas is slightly losing its roots.

Rockin over to ceasars the night is still young for theses young dudes...

Taylor, Ollie and Simon, headed over to Caesars Palace, played some Video Poker, had many many more cocktails, apparently the drinks/service was excellent.

Video Poker on the bar top at Ceasars... with yet more cocktails

The rest of us, yes you guessed it back to soak up the magnificent view from the balcony in the Cosmopolitan. Off to bed, feeling slightly concerned about the younger element of the party, whom stayed out partying just about all night, they arrived back to the Cosmo at around 5.30am!

All thought water and pizza was the order of the sober up, along with intermissions of vomiting sessions, Ollie stayed up and played more Video Poker to try and sober up, drank tomato juice to aid the process.

Packed and ready to roll...

Lesley gave them a call at about 8am, to remind them it was check out day, they only had a couple of hours sleep, Oh Joy!

Goodbye to our lovely view from the baclony at Cosmopolotian... until next year!

Friday 13th June - Check-Out of Cosmo and Check-In to Palazzo.

Said a sad farewell to our relatives, really hope they hook up with us on a future visit to Las Vegas, as it did make our trip this time very special.

Checked out of the Cosmopolitan is 11:00 am, you can check out, pay etc, but keep the room until 12 noon, then just phone down to say your are leaving, it does give you just that little bit extra time to enjoy.

Lovely strip view from our suite at the Palazzo

Took a cab over to the Palazzo our final stop on this trip. Check in was great, both rooms were upgraded to a "Complimentary" strip view, wow what a view and we were given adjoining rooms, so a bonus. (41812, 41816).

The boys went straight to bed as they were still hung-over from Caesars; Lesley headed off to the Fashion Show Mall, (she needed some retail therapy), I went off to the casino. Back in the room at about 5 ish, Simon still suffering, Ollie had gone down to the pool.

Lesley meets Human Nature backstage after the show.

Lesley and I had tickets for tonight's performance of the Human Nature show at the Venetian, so we got cleaned up, it was a great Motown show, really excellent, good music, good atmosphere, good fun.

Met the boys after the show at the Grand Lux Cafe, we all needed some food, (Chicken and rib combo, 2 burger melts and 1 enchilada with chips), what a blow out.

Ollie off to bed, followed shortly by Lesley, then me, lastly Simon, we were all in need of some sleep after the 3 nights of partying with some fun relatives.

Saturday 14th June - Fashion Show Mall & Zefferino's

Fashion Show Mall - as seen from our room

I headed over to the Wynn, the others over to the Fashion Show Mall,

Wynn - waterfall entrance

Ollie bought 2 pairs of jeans and got some free sunglasses; Simon got some speciality tea stuff and a present for Dan, his work mate, Lesley didn't buy anything, but she enjoyed the break from the casino's, she has also joined the Godiva chocolate loyalty scheme, so just shows her card at the shop every time she passes and gets a free truffle, she makes a pilgrimage to this shop in the Palazzo several times a day!

Its a long way down to the pools...

Ollie and Lesley went off to the pool for the afternoon, I stayed in the casino and got quite inebriated, unusual for me, I was on blue moon's with Jack Daniels chaser's.

We had a table booked at Zefferino's 7pm, Lesley's mum had given us some dollars to treat ourselves, so we thought a nice meal was the way to go. I was however a little bit too well oiled, (Lesley was not impressed).

Zefferino - Cured beef starter

I had the Calamari Starter

Anyway the service and setting was excellent, the cocktails that the others had were also very good, (Simon had a Cosmopolitan, Lesley had "Captain's Retreat" a rum based drink and Ollie had the Berry cocktail).

Beef Tenderloin

Three of us had the set meal, calamari or cured beef salad, sea bass or beef tenderloin in Barolo reduction, followed by pastries and coffee, Ollie had the 4 cheese risotto, rosemary potatoes and pastries.

I had the Sea Bass

OJ Risotto

The food was good, as opposed to excellent, like the service and drinks.

Trio of desserts

Finishing off with coffees...

A very pleasant evening. Thank you Lesley's Mum.

Zefferino's - view from top of the stairs as we were leaving

Lesley went off to Walgreens to get some supplies for home, she had a few spins on her way back to the room, retired about 11 pm, I was already in bed as the Cocktails did get the better of me.

Not sure which one to have... oh well both then...

Boys playing video poker in the Palazzo, cocktail service excellent, not sure what time they called it a day.

Ditto above

Sunday 15th June - Shopping, Wynn, Hash House A-Go-Go

9.15 am coffee and cinnamon whirl, is there anything better? Surprise Simon not good, he stayed in bed all day, must have been a good night, mind you Ollie was not far behind him.

Lesley and I headed out early, shopping and a few spins in the Wynn and Venetian, then a light lunch, Ollie spent a few hours by the pool.

Back to the room, to pack for trip home, it's a very long journey, 10 hour flight, followed by a 4 hour car trip, not a great prospect. But still on holiday so need to keep positive.

Just hit the Bonus on Zeus II while sipping champagne waiting for everyone

All packed, I went down to the csino ahead of the rest for a few spins until they were ready. Love the "Drinks to you" on the Palazzo slots - you can order what you want to drink from the slot and it gets promptly delivered by the Cocktail Waitress. Champagne for me while I wait for the others... we couldn't decide where to eat on our final night, Ollie suggested the Hash House A GoGo, so off we went, it was quite a stroll, but it was our last night on the strip to happy to soak it up.

2 New York steaks, veg, bacon and cheese mash and 2 Salmon with garlic mash, I had the bacon and cheese mash with my salmon.

Hash House A-Go-Go - Salmon with Cheese & Bacon Mash

Very full bellies, wandered back to Ti, (Treasure Island), luckily we saw the Mirage Volcano show on the way. took some photo's of the strip.

Had a few spins in Ti, Ollie headed off to bed, he was worried about the jet lag as only a few days after his return he was off to Spain for a work conference.

The rest of us stayed in the Palazzo until about 12:30am, getting the most out of our last night, no serious losses.

Monday 16th June - Check out and the long Journey Home

All packed and last minute visit to the Godiva chocolate shop for Lesley!

View down from our room to Fashion Show Mall and the Wynn

Checked out, the Palazzo did wave the resort fee's as the turn down service did not materialise as requested, so that was a pleasant surprise although Lesley does like a chocolate at turn down. But overall a great stay at the Palazzo as usual.

View down and across the road - Senor Frogs at Treasure Island

We waited, all a bit down hearted as the long journey home is never good, we had ordered a limo to take us back to the airport, always use Presidential.

Waiting for the Limo - all packed up and ready to roll

...then guess what happened next, a very large super stretch Cadillac purred into the drive of the Palazzo, at 1.30 pm, the time we booked, it had Presidential on the side.